Bag feed mechanism



June 20, 1950 R. ALTHOFF 2,512,048

1m: mu MECHANISM Filed Oct. 18, 1947 v 4 sheets-sheet 1 IN TOR June 20, 1950 R. ALTHOFF BAG FEED MECHANISM INVENTOR and Hlthoff 2 ATTO 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1947 June 20, 1950 R. ALTHOFF BAG FEED MECHANISM INVENTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1947 G Ill ll G5 |m||||||| um sr Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES P BAG FEED MECHANISM Raymond Althoif, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Bagomatic, Incorporated, Brooklyn, N. 2., a

corporation of New York Application Gctober 1s, 1947,"Seria'lNo. 780,665

This invention relates to automatic bag sewing machinery and more particularly to apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of bag material such as, for example, burlap into an export seam adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine.

In-the manufacture of sewed bags it is the usual practice to sew the bag inside out and then reverse the bag before it is filled with the material that is to be packed in the bag. The manufacturing operation is commonly carried out by foldinga piece ofbag-material in half, sewing the free edges opposite the fold to form a side seam, sewing another pair of edgesto form a bottom seam, and then turning the bag inside out. In order to provide additional strength,'it is frequently desirable to make either the side seam or the bottom seam, or both, a s'o-called export seam.

The nature of an export seamand the general purpose of the present apparatus when applied to the making of such a seam may be conveniently illustrated and explained by referense to Figs. 1 and-2 of the accompanying drawings which show, respectively, the manner inwhich a piece of bag material is folded before beingfed to a preferred embodiment of the present apparatus to form a side seam of'the bag, and the manner in which thematerial is folded after it leaves this embodiment of the :apparatus. Fig. 1 shows in crosssection apiece of burlap l0, folded in half to form the freee'dges l2 and I l. The burlap H! is fed to-the apparatus shown in Figs. 3-11 of the drawings, and described in detail hereafter, and the free edges 52 and M are automatically folded in such manner as to form the export seam is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. .The seam 16, which is the'side seam of the bag, can then'besewed in conventional sewing machine.

In order to justify its initial high cost, an automatic bag sewing machine must produce bag at a relatively high rate as compared with theproduction rate that is manually attainable, or attainable with the use of semi-automatic machinery. Moreover, this high rate must be achieved without substantial reduction in the quality of the work, since if an appreciable number of bags I is misfolded or mis-sewed, the loss due to rejected bags may offset the advantage of using the automatic machine. In general it may be said that the principal limitation upon bag sewing machinery has been, not the sewing machine itself, but ratherthe auxiliary apparatus for forming and handling the bag. Industrial sewing machines capable of sewing at very high rates are readily available, but the development of bag handling and bag forming machinery has not 17 Claims. (Cl. 112-10) I 2 kept pace with the development of 'th'e se'wirig machine itself.

It is accordingly an object of the-presentinvention to provide improved apparatus for-forming a folded seaminapiece of bag material that isto be-"sewed in a sewingmachine. It is a further obiect of the invention to provide such '--a seam-former that is capable ofoperating-at a high rate of speed. ltisanother object 'of -the inve'ntion to provide-a seam forr'ner=of-this character that is simplein construction and-accurate and reliable in operation. Other objects =of the invention-will be-in part obvious and in part poin-ted out hereafter.

The many objects and advantages of' the-presen't invention may best be appreciated by refe'rence to the accompanying drawings' which illustrate apparatus incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

1 Figs. 1 and 2,- aspreviously described, are crosssections of a piece of bagmaterial before it enters the present apparatus and after it leaves the present-apparatus respectively;

Fig. 3 is a general side: elevation of the present seam former, showing its normal position with respect-to that of the feed table-and sewing machine presser-foot;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of theseamion'ner, showing the drive shafts and gearing-for driving the various'elements 'of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view ofthe' in terior of the seam former showing the separator disks, the fold-forming disks and the bag material edge guides;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section throughithese'am former, taken on thaline B-t of Fig. 5 and-showing in elevation the various parts depicted in Fig. 7 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on theline 'l'l "of-Fig. 6 and showing the manner: in which the fold forming v disks cooperate with oneianother; I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentar section throughione 'of the separator disk drive shafts, showing the-'manner in which the disengaging combs are mounted with respect to the separator disks;

I 'Fig.-.9:is a fragmentary section'taken on .theil lne 9- 9:of Fig. 6' andzshowing two of thedisengaging comb adjusting rods;

Fig. -10 is a detail view ofthe adjacent portions of the 'uppereand lower separator .disks, showing the manner in which they separate'the'edgaportions of the'bag material; :and

Figs. 11, '12 and. Bare sections taken'on-the lines 'll-'ll, l2-l2, and l3-l3respecztivelyof As described more fully hereafter, the feed roll 20 causes the bag material to be fed at a controlled rate to the fold former 22 wherein the edges I2 and I4 are folded to form the export fold I6. The seam former 22 is provided with a longitudinal slot 23 through which a part of the feed table I8 extends to support the main portion of the bag material as it passes through the fold former. This extension of feed table l8 into the fold former is shown only in Figs. 5, '7 and 11-43 of the drawings, since in Fig. 3 and other figures, it tends to hide working parts of the fold former that it is desirable to show.

After the double fold I6 has been formed, it is pressed and fed between the lower portion of feed table I8 and a conveyor 24- in such manner that the conveyer moves the bag material downwardly along the lower portion of the feed table to and along a horizontal sewing table 26 to a sewing machine. Since the sewing machine may be of a conventional type, only the presser foot 28 of the machine is shown in the drawings.

The construction of fold former 22 and the mounting of feed roll 20 are best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 'l of the drawings. Referring to these figures, the feed roll 20 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 39 to which it is keyed by a key 32 in such manner that the feed roll is rotated by the shaft but can be positioned axially of the shaft. Shaft 30 passes through and is supported by a journal bearing 34 that is fixed to an arm 36 swivelly mounted on a rotatable shaft 38 which extends through and is supported by a journal bearing Ill and by a side wall of the casing 40 of fold former 22. Thus the feed roll 20 is movable with respect to the fold former casing 40 and the feed table I8, and may ride up over the bag material as the material passes between feed roll and feed table. The feed roll is caused to bear against the upper surface of the feed table, or of the bag material, by the action of gravity.

. In order to ensure proper alignment of the feed roll 20 with the interior parts of the fold former, the surface of the roll is provided with a series of grooves 42 into which the ends of a series of vertical disengaging plates of a disengaging comb 44 extend. The construction and operation of the disengaging comb 44 is described more fully below.

1 The feed table I8 extends through an opening 46 in the fold former casing 40 to a point adjacent to the mechanism that separates the free edges l2 and I4 of the bag material. This mechanism consists of two series of separator disks comprising an upper set of toothed wheels 48 which are keyed to the shaft 38 by a key 50 and a lower set of toothed wheels 52 that are keyed to a shaft 54 by .a key 56. The construction is such that the upper separator disks 48 and lower separator disks 52 may be rotated by the shafts 38 and 54 respectively, but are axially movable with respect to these shafts. The disks 48 and 52 are positioned to engage respectively the upper and lower free edges of the bag material and are arranged with their peripheries tangent to one another,

but with their teeth in staggered relation. That is to say, the points of the teeth of the disks 48 are positioned opposite the spaces between the teeth of the disk 52 and vice versa.

The disengaging comb 44, previously referred to, comprises a series of vertical disengaging plates, the number and positions of the disengaging plates being such that a disengaging plate is located on both sides of each separator disk 48. The disengaging plates of comb 44 are mounted on a shaft 58 which is supported at its ends in the casing 40 of the fold former, and are free to rotate with respect to the shaft 56. Each of the disengaging plates of the comb 44 is provided with 9. depending arcuate shearing edge 60 which has a radius of curvature slightly greater than that of the separator disks 48. The comb 44 is normally so positioned that the teeth of the separator disks extend somewhat below the bottom portions of the shearing edges fill of the comb, whereas the upper portions'of the shearing edges extend beyond the disk teeth.

The lower set of separator disks 52 is provided with a disengaging comb 62 which is similar to the comb 44 and is mounted on and rotatable about a shaft 64. The disengaging plates of the comb 62 are provided with upwardly extending arcuate shearing edges 65 which have radii of curvature somewhat greater than the radii of curvature of the separator disks 52.

The manner in which the separator disks 48 and '52 and combs 44 and 62 cooperate to separate the edges of the bag material is best shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Referring to Fig. 10, as the bag material passes between the separator disks 48 and 52 the peripheral teeth of the separator disks 48 engage transverse fibres of the upper edge portion I2 of the bag material and the peripheral teeth of the lower separator disks 52 engage transverse fibres of the lower edge portion l4 of the bag material. As the disks 48 and 52 are rotated, the edge portions of the material are separated from one another. Upon continued rotation of disks 48 and 52, the peripheral teeth of the separatordisks gradually move into the spaces between the plates of the combs 44 and 62 respectively, and the edge portions of the bag material are released by being pushed ofi the teeth of the separator disks, or, in some cases, the transverse fibres may be sheared by the cooperative action of the separator disks and the disengaging plates of the combs. In order to prevent the edges I2 and I4 from coming together again when they have been released from the separator disks, a guide 66 is provided having a leading edge 68 that extends partway between the two'sets of separator disks as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

Referring again to Fig. 5 and also to Fig. 8, the disengaging plates of the comb 44 and the separator disks 48 are spring-pressed together. The inner end of bearing 10 forms an abutment against which the plates and disks are pressed by a spring I2 which bears against the front plate of the comb 44 and also against an adjusting nut 14 threaded onto a bushing 16 mounted on the casing 40. By adjustment of the nut I4 the tension of spring I2 may be adjusted to regulate the force with which the separator disks 48 and disengaging plates of comb 44 are pressed together. This force is so regulated as to ensure proper shearing action and at the same time permit rotation of the separator disks. Since the disengaging plates of the comb 44 extend into the grooves 42 of the feed roll 20, proper alignment of the feed roll and separator disks is" also ensured. Thelower separator disks t2 and disengaging plait'es "of comb- 62 are pressed together "by' an adjustable spring (not 'shown) similar to the spring -12; a

- 1 It is apparent that the point of A disengagement of the 'oag material from the separator disks is determined hy the relative-positions of the -sepa ra tor disks 48 and the-cornic and also by the relative positions or the separator disk and the comb 62. In'order' to regulate these points of disengagement, ithecombs' Mendez are-made adjustable. Referring to Figs. "'6 and!) of the drawingsgeach of the di'sengag ing plates ofcom'b M ie-provided with a threaded adjusting screw 1-8 having a lower endwvhich extends into the top of the disengaging plate'arfd is provided with a-g' r-oove sea-mo which the disengaging plate is peenedto -provide-a-connedtion betweenthe screw and plate which permits -'rotation of "the screwbut prevents axial-movements]? the screw relative tothe plate- E achof the screws 18 passes through a nut B Z fixed-in the casing wof the-seam former and extends upwardly-to the -'exterior of the -c-a=sing. :i'ts -top-ea'ch ser'ew 48 'is provided with'akerf -8 by means of which the screw-may be rotated toposition the disengaging plate of the comb i-ii. shown ineni'g. -8- the disengaging plates of comb stare provided'with centralholes 86 which are somewhat larger in diameter-than shaft 38 to permit the desired adjustment of the comb ts-relative to the-shaft $8 and separator disks ,8. The lower =comb 62 is provided with similanadjusting screws 88 that are similarly mounted in the fi-xed nuts-iiil and maybe rotated to position the disengaging plates of the comb 6?. relative to the separator disks 52.

. The driving mechanism for drivingthe feed roll as and separator disks 4-8- and 52 is shown in Figs. sand 5 of the drawings. Referring to these :figures, there is provided in the lower central portion-f the fold former 22' a driveshaf-t 92 rotatably mounted in the casing 46 and driven by a suitable motor (not shown). Fixed -tothe drive shaft 92 there is a bevel-gear seamen engages a pair of bevel gears 96 and --98 fixed to the diagonalshafts l lliland 4 62 respectively.- The shaft It!) is-rotatably mounted on the casing ii! by means of the iournalbearings 194 and H33, and the-shaft l 82-is-mountedin the journal bearings -I M-and-- I to which are fixedto-thecasing-so. At its upper end shaft 4-92 is provided witha bevel gear I-I-2 that engagesa bevel --gea-r lid on the shaft -5 l-'which also carries a gear H6 that meshes with asimilar gear I I-B'on the-shaft t8. To drive'thefeed rellis, shaft -38 is provided with a sprocket I28, and shaft is providedwithia similar sprocket I22, the -sprockets are and I22 .being interconnected Joy a chain I-Z-t in such mannerthatthe feed 4 011241 is driven fromshaft38. Thus-the feed roll 20 and shafts 38 andst i which carry the separator disks fifi and 52 respectively are positively interconnected to ensure proper synchronization thereof.

. After the free edges of the bag material have beenseparated, they are folded .to form a double fold. as shown in Figure2 which is then sewed to produce the exportseam. Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 11 of the drawings, the mainpo-rtion of. the bag-material passes between the. guide platesfil and 69 and the free edges of the bag -material :pass over the guide 66 to the fold-forming disks which comprise an upper male 1 fold-forming diskv 12-5, a lower vmale fold-forming disk I28, and a female fold-*formingmember 13d comprising an upper disk I3 I and lower disk I 3.3

that may beinterconnected with one :another as shown in Fig. 7. The disk In is mounted on s. shaft i3-2 that extends u wardly through amovable bearing I34'and-is provided at its iup'per e'hd with a driving gear 136. The diskIZB :is fixed to a shaft 13s that extends downwardly through a movable bearing I40 and is provided at its lower end with a driving gear 142. The forming member I lit] is fixed to a shaft I44. that extends thr-ough an upper bearing Hit and a-lower bearing I48. At its upper-end shaft I44 is provided with a driving gear I56 that meshes with the gear I38 and at its lower end shaft I44 is provided with a driving gear I 52 that meshes with the gear I42. All of the disks I26, I23, HM and [33 are driven from the drive shaft 92 through the bevel gear t5 fixed to the shaft 92 and the bevel gear I 56 fixed to the shaft 1M. The forming member I30 is provided witha deep central groove I58 through 'hich the guide t6 passes. The guide "(it is provided with upper and lower projecting portions I68 and IE2 which serve to guide the upper edge ofthe hag material onto the upper surface of disk I3'I and lower surface of disk I33 respectively. The main 'por tion of the bag material is supported on feed table it and is guided by guide plates 61 and 69 between the disks 1-26 and I28. As shown in- Fi'gs. l and 12 guide plate E1 is provided Witha hole its that fits over a cylindrical projection I25 of the disk 12% to ensure properpos'iti'oriing of the guide plate with respect to the disk and guide plate 69 is provided with a hole I21 that fits over a projection I29 of disk I28 for the same urpose.

Still referring to Figs. 7 and 12, the disk [3| is provided with a peripheral forming groove 154- Which cooperates with a peripheralformingsur face or tongue M5 of the disk I26, and the disk its is provided with a peripheral groove I 58 which cooperates with the peripheral forming surface or tongue I73 of the disk I28. As the upper layer of the bag material passes between the disk I3I and disk 126, the forming surfaces i6 3 and its cause the edgeportion I4'ito' be folded over to form an external fold. Similarly, as the lower layer of the bag materialipa'sses between the disk I33 and the disk I2 8 the lower edge.

hearing I34 is provided at its upper end with the" projecting ears I12 that fit into corresponding grooves or tracks HM formed in the casing to in such manner as to permittran'sverse slid ing movement of the bearing. .A compression.

spring IlG bears against the upper portion of the bearing I34 and also against the casing-d9 to cause the bearing I34; to be urged toward the bearing M6 and to cause the iforming'isurfa'ce Hi3 of disk I26 to-exert 'a predetermined force on the forming surface-5 1 of *disk I82 similar to thespring H e-urges the iformi-ng surface of disks I 2-8 against the forming surface- !68 of disk I33.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 13, afterleaving the fold-forming disks the -main portion for the-bag material continues to pass between the r-guide.- plates 6? and ES Which .cause'the bag material at; The; movable bearing I 4'6 :i's pr'o-vided with similar ears- I'I8 that fit into grooves 1.80 toiperrnit transverse. sliding movementof the hearing MB and a spring a to continue in a desired straight line direction and prevent the material from being carried around with the fold-forming disks as they rotate. The folded edges of the material pass through a forming guide I84 having arms I85 and I81 that overlap the edge portions of the guide plates 81 and 69 and guide the edge portions of the bag material to complete the formation of the double fold. The folded edges leave the discharge ends of forming guide I84 and guide plates 61 and 69 and pass between a pair of press rolls I86 and I88. The upper press roll I86 carries the conveyer 24 and causes the bag material'to be moved onto the lower portion I8 of the feed table and out of the fold former casing 40 through a slot I98. The feed table I8 is provided with a knife edge I92 that bears against the surface of lower roll 8 to make sure that the bag material is properly fed onto the feed table I8.

The press rolls I86 and I88 and conveyer 24 are driven from the main drive shaft 92. Referring to Figs. 4, and 6, the shaft I88 is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear I94 that meshes with a bevel gear I96 mounted on a shaft I98 to which the press roll I88 is keyed by a key 208. The shaft I98 also carries a, gear 282 which meshes with a gear 284 fixed to a shaft 206 to which the press roll I86 is fixed by a key 208. Thus the press rolls I86 and I88 and conveyer 24 are positively connected to the main drive shaft 92 through which they are also connected to the other moving parts of the apparatus.

The operation of the above-described apparatus is largely apparent from its description. The folded bag material I8 is moved downwardly on the feed table I8 until the free edges of the folded material engage the feed roll 28. It is then moved at a controlled rate into the fold former 22 through the opening 46 in the casing 46 of the seam former. As the material passes between the upper and lower sets of separator disks 48 and 52 the peripheral teeth of the separator disks engage transverse fibres of the upper and lower layers of the bag material respectively and separate the free edges of the material. The edges of the bag material adhere to the separator disks until they have passed to a point beyond the leading edge 68 of the guide 66 and are then disengaged by the combs 44 and 62 respectively. The separator disks and disengaging plates of the combs are held in firm contact with one another by adjustable springs so that if the transverse fibres are not pushed off the teeth of the separator disks, they will be sheared by the cooperative action of the disengaging plates and the teeth. The disengaging combs are made adjustable to ensure that the bag material will be disengaged from the separator disks only after it has passed beyond the leading edge 68 of the guide 66.

The main portion of the bag material moves along an extension of feed table I8 between the guide plates 61 and 68 and the fold-forming disks I26 and I28, whereas the separated edge portions of the material are guided by the upper and lower projecting portions I68 and I62 in such manner that they ride over the upper surface of seam-forming disk I3I and the lower surface of the fold-forming disk I33. The forming surface I66 of disk I26 and forming surface I64 of disk I3I cooperate to cause the edge portion I4 of the bag material to he formed into an external told. and the forming surface Ill) or disk I28. and

forming surface I68 of disk I33 cooperate to cause an external fold to be formed in the free edge I6 of the bag material. The folds thus formed are brought into contact with one another again at the discharge end of the guide I84 and pressed firmly together by the press rolls I86 and I88. The export fold thus formed passes onto the lower portion of feed table I8 and is fed by conveyer 24 to the presser foot 28 of a sewing machine which sews the fold.

It has been found that the apparatus described is capable of operating at relatively high speeds to form an export fold accurately and reliably. The separator disks give a positive separation of the edges of the bag material and the disengaging combs ensure proper disengagement of the edges of the material after they have been separated. The separator disks provide a simple and positive method of forming the desired folds in the material to form an export fold.

Since many embodiments might be made of the present invention and since many changes might be made in the embodiment disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is to be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. Numerous modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, separating means for separating said free edges of said bag material, first fold-forming means for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said separating means and forming a fold in said free edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the other of said free edges of said material from said separating means and forming a fold in said other free edge, first guide means positioned between said separating means and said fold-forming means to maintain said two free edges of said material separated as said material passes from said separating means to said foldiorinlng means, disengaging means for disengaging said edges from said separating means when said edges have begun to pass over said first guide means, second guide means for guiding said edge folds from said first and second foldf'orming means into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

2. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, separating means for separating said free edges of said bag material, first fold-forming means for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said separating means and forming a fold in said free edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the other of said free edges of said material from said separating means and forming a fold in said other free edge, first guide means positioned between said separating means and said fold-forming means to maintain said two free edges of said material separated as said material passes from said separating means to said fold-forming means, disengaging means cooperating with said separating means to disengage said edges of said material from said separating means, said disengaging means being adjustable with respect to said separating means and said first guide means to ensure disengagement of'said material from said separating means after saidmaterial has passed the leading edge of said first guide means, second guide means for guiding said edge folds from said'first and second fold-forming means into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for pressingsaid folds together to form said double seam.

3. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into an export double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, first rotatable toothed. wheel means positioned to engage one free edge of said bag material, second rotatable toothed wheel means positioned to engage the other 'edge of said bag material, means for rotating said first and second toothed wheel means to causesaid toothed wheel means to separate said edges from one anothenfirst foldf'ormingmeans for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said first toothed wheel means and forming an external fold in said edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the other of said free edges from said second toothed wheel means and forming an external fold in said other free edge, guide means forguiding said edge folds from said first and second formingmeans intocontact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said edgefolds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

=1. In apparatus forf'orming the free edges of a piece of folded: bag material into a double fold adapted: to be sewed by'a, sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, first toothed Wheel means positioned to'engage' one free edge of said bag material, second toothed wheel means positioned toengage the other free edge of said material, means-for rotating said first and second toothed wheel means to cause" said toothed wheel means to: separate. one of said edges from the other edge; first fold-fanning means for receiving one of said free edges from: said first toothed wheel means and forming an external fold in said edge, second fold-forming'means for receiving the other edge of said loagmaterial from said. second: toothed wheel meansand forming an external fold iii-said. other'edge, first guide means positioned between said. toothed wheel means and said fold-forming meanst'o maintain said edges separated? from one another as they pass from said toothed wheel means to said fold-forming means; disengaging means for disengaging said edges from said toothed wheel means aftersaid edges have. begun to pass over sai first guide means, second? guide means forguidingthe folds formed by said: first and second fold-forming means into: contact with one anotherand pressure-exerting means;formeceiving said folds from said second: guide: means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

a: pieceof: folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam; in combination, first toothed second toothed wheel means and forming an external fold in said other edge, first guide means positioned between saidtoothed wheel means and said fold-forming means to maintain said edges separated from one another as they pass from saidseparating means to said fold-forming means, disengaging means for disengaging said edges from said toothed wheel means after said edges have begun to pass over said first guide means, adjusting means for adjusting the position of said disengaging means with respect to said toothed wheel means and said first guide means to ensure disengagement of said material from said toothed Wheel means after said material has begun to pass over said first guide means, second guide means for guiding the folds formed by said first and second fold forming means into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said second guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

6. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, a first series of coaxial toothed wheels positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material at one'of the free edges thereof, a second series of co-axi'al toothed wheels positioned to engage the other side of said folded hag material near the other free edge thereof, means for rotating said toothed wheels to cause said toothed wheels to separate said free edges of said bag material, first fold-forming means for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said first series of toothed wheels and forming an external fold in said free edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the other of said free edges from said-second series of co-axial' toothed wheels and forming an external fold in said other edge of said material, guide means for guiding the edge folds formed by said first and second fold-forming means into contact with'oneanother and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

'7. In apparatus for'forming the free edges of'a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewedby a sewing machine to fiirm a double fold, in combination, a first series of coaxial toothed wheels positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material at oneof the free edges thereof, a second series of co-axialtoothed wheels positioned to" engage the other side of said folded bag material near the other free edge wheel means positioned to engage one free edge 1 ofsaid bagxmaterial; second toothedwheel means positioned to engage the other free edge of said material; meansfor rotatingsaid first and second toothed wheel means-to cause said toothed wheel means to separate oneofsaid edges from the thereof, means for rotating said toothed wheels to cause said toothed wheels to' separate, said free edges of saidbag material, first fold-forming means for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said first series of toothed 5-. In apparatus for forming the free edges of wheels and forming an external fold in said free edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the otheroi said free edges from saidsecondseries of co-axial toothed wheels and forming an external fold in said other ed'ge'of said material, afirst series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheelsof said first series of toothed wheels andadapted to cooperate therewith to disen age said material from said toothed wheels after said free edges'have'been separated, a second series of disengaging members positioned between the toothedwhe'el's of said second'series of wheels and adapted to cooperate with said second series of wheels to separat'e'the otherof said free the. other edge of said bag material" from said as edges frorn said secondseriesof wheels after said free edges have been separated, guide means for guiding the folds formed by said first and second fold-forming means into contact with one another, and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

8. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form a double fold, in combination, a first series of co-axial toothed wheels positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material at one of the free edges thereof, a second series of co-axial toothed wheels positioned to engage the other side of said folded bag material near the other free edge thereof, means for rotating said toothed wheels to cause said toothed wheels to separate said free edges of said bag material, first foldforming means for receiving one of said free edges of said material from said first series of toothed wheels and forming an external fold in said free edge, second fold-forming means for receiving the other of said free edges from said second series of co-axial toothed wheels and forming an external fold in said other edge of said material, a separating member mounted between said toothed wheels and said fold-forming means for maintaining said free edges separated from one another as they pass from said toothed wheels to said fold-forming means, said separating memberhaving a leading edge extending to a point between said first and second series of toothed wheels, a first series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels oi. said first series of wheels for disengaging said one free edge of said bag material from said first series of wheels, a second series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels of said second series of toothed wheels and adapted to cooperate with the toothed wheels of said second series to disengage said other edge of said material from said second series of wheels, first adjusting means for adjusting the position of said first series of disengaging members with respect to said first series of toothed wheels to ensure disengagement of said material from said first series of toothed wheels after said material has passed said leading edge of said separating member, second adjusting means for adjusting the position of said second series of disengaging members with respect to said second series of toothed wheels to ensure disengagement of said material from said second series of said toothed wheels after said material has passed said leading edge of said separating member, guide means for guiding the edge folds formed by said first and second fold-forming means into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

9. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewin machine to form an export seam, in combination, separating means for separating said free edges of said bag material, a first pair of rotatable fold-forming disks adapted to receive one of said separated free edges of said bag material therebetween, a second pair of rotatable fold-forming disks adapted to receive the other separated free edge of said bag material therebetween, means for rotating said two pairs of disks to cause said disks to form external folds in said free edges of said material, guide, means for guiding 12 the folds formed by said seam-forming disks into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form said double fold.

10. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export scam, in combination, separating means for separating said free edges of said bag material, a first pair of rotatable foldforming disks adapted to receive therebetween one separated edge of said bag material from said separating means, a second pair of rotatable fold-forming disks adapted to receive therebetween the other separated free edge of said material from said separating means, one disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral groove and the other disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral tongue cooperating with the groove in said other disk to cause bag material passing between said disks to be folded in an external fold, means for rotating said first and second pairs of disks to form said external folds in said free edges of said material, guide means for guiding the edge folds formed by said seam-forming disks into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and pressing said folds together to form a double fold.

11. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, in combination, separating means for separating said free edges of said bag material, a first pair of rotatable foldforming disks adapted to receive therebetween one separated edge of said bag material from said separating means, a, second pair of rotatable fold-forming disks adapted to receive therebetween the other separated free edge of said material from said separating means, one disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral groove and the other disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral tongue cooperating with the groove in said other disk to cause bag material passing between said disks to be folded in an external fold, means for rotating said first and. second pairs of disks to form said external folds in said free edges of said material, resilient force-exerting means positioned to exert a resilient force on one disk of each of said pairs of disks to hold the disks of each pair of disks in resilient contact with one another, guide means for guiding the edge folds formed by said fold-forming disks into contact with one another and pressure-exerting means for receiving said folds from said guide means and rpressing said folds together to form said double fold.

12. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for separating said free edges from one another comprising, in combination, first rotatable toothed wheel means positioned to engage one side of said bag material near one of said free edges, second rotatable toothed means positioned to engage the other side of said folded bag material near the other free edge thereof and means for rotating said first and second toothed wheel means to cause said toothed wheel means to separate said free edges of said folded bag material.

13. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for separating said free edges from one another comprising, in combination, first rotatable toothed wheel means positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material near one of said free edges, second rotatable toothed wheel means positioned to engage the other side of said folded has material near the other free edge thereof, means for rotating said toothed wheel means to cause said toothed wheel means to separate said free edges of said bag material and disengaging means cooperating with said toothed wheel means to disengage said bag material from said toothed wheel means after said free edges have been separated.

14. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for separating said free edges from one another comprising, in combination, a first series of co-axial toothed wheels positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material near one of said free edges, a second series of co-axial toothed wheels positioned to engage the other side of said folded bag material near the other of said free edges, a first series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels of said first series of wheels and adapted to cooperate with said toothed wheel to disengage said one free edge of said material from said toothed wheels after it has been separated from said other free edge, a second series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels of said second series of toothed wheels and adapted to cooperate with the toothed wheels of said second series to disengage said other free edge of said material from the toothed wheels of said second series when said other edge has been separated from said one edge and means for rotating said toothed wheels to cause said toothed wheels to separate said free edges of said material.

15. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for separating said free edges from one another comprising, in combination, a first series of co-axial toothed Wheels positioned to engage one side of said folded bag material near one of said free edges, a second series of coaxial toothed wheels positioned to engage the other side of said folded bag material near the other of said free edges, a first series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels of said first series of wheels and adapted to cooperate with said toothed wheel to disengage said one free edge of said material from said toothed wheels after it has been separated from said other free edge, a second series of disengaging members positioned between the toothed wheels of said second series of toothed wheels and adapted to cooperate with the toothed wheels of said second series to disengage said other free edge of said material from the toothed wheels of said second series when said other edge has been separated from said one edge, first adjusting means for adjusting said first series of disengaging members to vary the point at which said material is disengaged from said first series of toothed wheels, second adjusting means for adjusting the position of said second series of disengaging members to vary the point at which said material is disengaged from said second series of toothed Wheels, and means for rotating said first and second series of toothed wheels to cause said toothed wheels to separate the free edges of said folded material.

16. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for forming a fold in each of said free edges of said free material comprising, in combination, a first pair of rotatable disks mounted with their peripheries in contact with one another and adapted to receive one free edge of said bag material therebetween, a second pair of rotatable disks mounted with their peripheries in contact with one another adapted to receive the other free edge of said bag material therebetween, one disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral groove and the other disk of said pairs of disks having a peripheral tongue cooperating with the groove in the other disk of said pair to cause bag material passing between said disks to be folded into an external fold, and means for rotating said first and second pairs of disks to form said external folds in said free edges of said material.

17. In apparatus for forming the free edges of a piece of folded bag material into a double fold adapted to be sewed by a sewing machine to form an export seam, mechanism for forming a fold in each of said free edges of said free material comprising, in combination, a first pair of rotatable disks mounted with their peripheries in contact with one another and adapted to receive one free edge of said bag material therebetween, a second pair of rotatable disks mounted with their peripheries in contact with one another adapted to receive the other free edge of said bag material therebetween, one disk of each of said pairs of disks having a peripheral groove and the other disk of said pairs of disks having a peripheral tongue cooperating with the groove in the other disk of said pair to cause bag material passing between said disks to be folded into an external fold, spring means for urging one disk of each of said pairs of disks into contact with the other disk of said pair, to provide a resilient contact between said disks and means for urging the disks of said first and second pairs of disks to form said external folds in said free edges of said material.

RAYMOND ALTHOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 139,378 Earle May 27, 1873 1,524,190 McNeil Jan. 27, 1925 1,636,517 Krasa July 19, 1927 

